“I should have never let you take a fucking picture of me, and I should have broken your camera to pieces when you did.”
He smirks lightly, and then a plump, short little woman holds a microphone while stepping out onto the center of the dance floor.
“Thank you all for coming to this wonderful event. Now is the time we all love. Our incredible, generous, and very single captain is about to pick a girl to dance with, and the rule is as it always is… she can’t refuse him. Now you single ladies smile, show a little leg, and pray you’re the one he picks,” she giggles out while flashing her red cheeks, and then she runs down to take her place on the side as she makes herself noticeable for Hale.
My breath hitches the moment he comes into view with his sexy-as-Hale smirk, and he takes his time strutting toward me as the music begins to play. He adjusts his tie while giving me a wink, and I’m sick at my stomach at this point. I can’t dance with him.
Just when I think he’s about to take me, he stops, kneels, and then a small girl - no older than five- emerges from the pack to take his hand. Her smile looks to sting her cheeks, and her hybrid blue eyes are lit up with giddy excitement. Tears almost enter my eyes, but I fight them off as he scoops her up to rest on his hip while twirling around with her in his arms.
Her light brown ringlets dance in the wind stirred by his circling dance, and her laughter brings a smile to everyone’s face. I cover my ridiculous grin with my hand, and his eyes catch mine every time he stops spinning to dance a little sillier with her.
Her laughter continues roar free, and I actually let out a small laugh of my own when it becomes too infectious to fight off.
“He always picks a hybrid child. Every damn time we have one of these parties I’m sure he’s going to pick an actual woman. It’s starting to feel like rejection,” a girl behind me grouses, and my smile only widens.
“They say he was engaged to a woman once. I’d worry he was gay otherwise,” another says.
“Didn’t he date some chick here for a while?” another asks, and I realize there’s a huddle of them now swooning over Hale as their jealously sparks behind me.
“He did, but she left him for a full blood. They say he still loves her. I wish he loved me,” a new voice dreamily sighs, and a small tear finally escapes my eye.
I can’t stand down here and see all of this. It’s too hard to fight the way I feel about him in this atmosphere.
Hale or Brazen? Hale or Brazen? Neither one.
I start to walk off, but a guy grabs me up and starts dancing with me before I completely escape.
“You are striking,” he gushes. “Please tell me you’re not married.”
His dark red hair and soft blue eyes are not drawing me in the way my full blood and hybrid do.
“No, I’m not, but I’m so far from available it’s not even funny,” I huff.
“Care to explain?” he muses.
“She’s trying to tell you she’s in love with someone even though she won’t say it out loud,” Hale’s voice interjects, and he pulls me away from the pouting man as a new song begins.
His hands grip me tightly, and then his lips brush against my head as the slow song promises love. The huddle of women who were behind me now stare at me with gaping mouths - their eyes burning with envy.
“I love you, Araya,” he blurts out so softly.
I sigh as I lean into him, lying my head on his chest. I breathe him in, and he smells so damn good. I could do this, but I would just get hurt again. He’ll never stop leaving me in the dark.
“It doesn’t matter what you say now, Hale. It’s what you’ve shown that proves you don’t love me. You wouldn’t have crumbled me like a week old newspaper if you loved me.”
“Baby, I just wanted you safe. I still want you safe. Just stay at my place until we get a hold on all the newcomers. I don’t like knowing you’ll be sharing a room with someone here. I’ve yet to find Wendy this afternoon, so I have no idea who drew your name.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just dance with me for right now, and then go enjoy your party. You’ve got quite the little fan club full of women eager to dance with you.”
My eyes point to the crowd still teeming with envy, and I wait anxiously for his response to that. If he dances with another woman, I’ll fall apart. I shouldn’t be so fucking selfish.
“You’re the only one I want to dance with. The flock of women chasing after me will just have to continue gossiping to ease their disappointment,” he cockily releases.
I snicker lightly, and then he tilts my head up so my eyes meet his.
“You know where I’ll be staying, and you know you would be more comfortable there. I have to go mingle right now. My people put a lot of hard work into this, but I’ll see you after while unless you feel like going person to person with me. I’d love to introduce you as my girl again,” he utters hopefully.
“Go mingle. I’m not very social. You know this,” I mumble.
